Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1192126
38 I ICT TODAY Rather than housing and constructing OS2 singlemode and OM1 to OM4 multimode into optical fiber cables, as is done for conventional cabling and the micro-cables used in blown cable systems, the blown fiber system houses and constructs the same optical fiber types into fiber bundles protected by a tough aerodynamic jacket that allows for fast blowing at long distances. blown cable systems, the blown fiber system houses and constructs the same optical fiber types into fiber bundles protected by a tough aerodynamic jacket that allows for fast blowing at long distances (Figure 2). The fiber bun- dles, which utilize ripcords for easy bundle entry, are available in singlemode and multimode and in a variety of counts from 2-to-72 optical fibers depending on the manufacturer. Among other compliances, these fiber bundles meet IEEE 802.3 gigabit Ethernet standards. The optical fibers are individually color-coded per TIA standards. UNDERSTANDING BLOWN FIBER TECHNOLOGY In addition to the optical fiber bundles, the heart of a blown fiber system consists of tube cables that are used in place of conventional innerduct to form the fiber pathways and LAN infrastructure. Unlike conventional cables and the micro-cables for blown cabling systems, which are listed as riser, plenum, indoor-outdoor and so on, it is the tube cable in the blown fiber system that possesses these classifications (Figure 3). FIGURE 2: For blown fiber systems, fiber bundles, rather than cables or micro-cables associated with conventional cabling and blown cable systems respectively, house the optical fiber within an aerodynamic jacket to facilitate fast and long blowing distances. Shown left to right: OS2 singlemode, OM1 62.5 µm, OM2 50 µm, and OM3/OM4 laser optimized 50 µm multimode fiber bundles. FIGURE 3: Blown fiber tube cables from left to right: Outdoor all-dielectric, outdoor armored, indoor riser rated, indoor plenum rated, and outdoor-indoor special applications (used for mass transit, nuclear power plants, industrial, and Class I, Division 1 and 2 installations). Shown are the 7-tube cable constructions.